“Football has turned upside down.” And an anti-system opinion

The Netherlands begin their American World Cup adventure tonight in a match against Japan at 11:00 p.m. in Dallas. A more than interesting duel. Two teams that are seen as having a good chance of making a successful final tournament.

Ovidiu Stângă believes that two national teams from Europe will compete for the big trophy. What does it say about the Dutch national team?

Ovidiu Stângă, 53 years old, multiple champion with PSV Eindhoven, with residence in the Country of Tulips, will also be watching this confrontation, even if from 2020 he works in Qatar at the Al-Sadd academy. Originally from Olt, the former member of the Golden Generation was part of the tricolor team that performed at the last two World Cups.

At the 1994 World Cup he was only in the team, at the 1998 Coupe du Monde he made two appearances, even in the great victories against Colombia (1-0) and England (2-1). Now, he watches World Cup matches on American soil from afar. He has no regrets, he accepted reality.

“We are on a walk through our beautiful country with the family, from Oltenia to Banat and now we have arrived in Transylvania. We still want to see green, after so much desert.

About the World Cup, at the moment, they are all in a heap. The teams that have participated in this competition for many years will meet at the top. The real competition starts after the group stage, until then a lot of marketing.

Starting from scratch, everyone wants to impress, but few can. I saw the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. Mexico is not a force either, but South Africa seemed very weak to me.

I want to see Argentina and Brazil in action, in addition to the teams in Europe. Honestly, I would still like a final between South America and Europe. But I think there will be two teams from Europe who will fight for the big trophy.

I don't watch football like I used to. I'm still on vacation with my family. Eventually, I will pay more attention to the details. I like Holland, of course, but I think that in the old days it brought footballers from Italy, from England, and now it brings from the Brazilian championship. There are details, yes, but I think it's a setback. This rotation of footballers does not help. That's why the Netherlands is no longer in the top 3 favourites.

Brazil used to bring the best footballers from Holland, Romario and Ronaldo, now Holland got to bring Depay from Brazil. Football has turned upside down”, commented Ovidiu Stângă for Gazeta Sporturilor.

3Ovidiu Stângă won championship titles in Holland with PSV Eindhoven, for which he collected 7 goals and 9 assists in 68 matches

55of goals Memphis Depay (32 years old, Corinthians) scored for the Dutch national team in 109 selections, being the best scorer in the history of this representative team

Anti-system opinion: “We are doing badly, but Italy is also doing badly. However, we should have more teams from Europe at the World Cup”

The Oltean is of the opinion that Europe should have more representatives at the World Championship finals.

“It has become a habit for Romania not to be at the World Cup. Europe has quite a few places for the World Cup, and I say this even if our national team is doing badly for so many years. And Italy is doing badly!

You don't have a good generation, two, three, but I think Italy deserved more to be in the World Cup compared to South Africa, for example. I think that more teams from Europe should participate in the World Cup, because they must receive footballing quality,” Ovidiu said.

Mondial has become a luxury product for a very long time. The visa issue is an obstacle that must be overcome. There's also the financial thing, who can afford a match day there that costs as much as a week's vacation in a nice country?!
Ovidiu Left